How to set up eSIM on Samsung Galaxy: QR code, carrier app and transfer

An eSIM is a SIM built into your phone, so there is no card to insert. It makes switching carriers faster, lets you keep two numbers on one phone and is the easiest way to get a data plan when you travel. Samsung offers a few ways to add one, and the menu names change slightly by One UI version and by carrier. This guide covers each method, how to choose which line does what and what to try when activation fails.

Before you start

• Check that your Galaxy supports eSIM. Look for Add eSIM in Settings › Connections › SIM manager. If you do not see it, the model or the regional version may not support it.
• Make sure the phone is unlocked if you are using a different carrier than the one that sold it.

Not sure? Read how to check if your phone is unlocked. You also need a Wi-Fi connection, a plan or a new line with a carrier that supports eSIM, and the activation details the carrier gives you, such as a QR code or a carrier app.

Method 1: scan a QR code

Method 2: use your carrier's app or website

Many US carriers can install the eSIM for you without a QR code. Install the carrier's app, sign in, and choose the option to activate or switch to eSIM, such as Activate eSIM or Switch to eSIM. The app talks to your phone and installs the profile. This is usually the easiest route when you are switching to or from a carrier that supports it, because the carrier handles the details. Follow the prompts and keep the phone on Wi-Fi until it finishes.

Method 3: enter the details manually

If the QR code will not scan, you can type the details. Go to Settings › Connections › SIM manager › Add eSIM › Scan carrier QR code, then look for Enter activation code or Enter manually. Type the SM-DP+ address and the activation code exactly as your carrier gave them. Capital letters and punctuation matter. Travel eSIM providers often include these details in the email under the QR code.

Method 4: transfer an eSIM from another phone

An eSIM does not copy over like a file. To move yours to a new Galaxy, start the transfer in your carrier's app, or ask the carrier for a new QR code. Some carriers let you convert a physical SIM to an eSIM in the app when you set up the new phone. Your old phone stops working on the line once the new eSIM activates, so do not remove the old one until the transfer is finished. When you set up the new phone with Smart Switch, check whether your carrier offers to move the line during setup.

How to choose which SIM does what

Using an eSIM when you travel

A travel eSIM from a data provider can be far cheaper than roaming. Install it before you leave, while you have Wi-Fi, but do not turn it on. At your destination, set it as the mobile data SIM, and keep your main SIM on for calls and texts, or turn on Data roaming for the travel eSIM only. Turn off data on your home line so you are not charged roaming fees by accident. For a full travel checklist, see how to use your phone in Europe.

Samsung eSIM not working? Try these fixes

If the eSIM is on but the phone shows No service, see what to do when a Samsung is not registered on the network.

Which Samsung phones can use an eSIM?

eSIM arrived on Galaxy phones with the S20 generation and is now common across the Galaxy S, Z Flip and Z Fold lines and some A models. Support also depends on the version of the phone sold for your region, so two phones with the same name can differ. The most reliable check is on the phone itself: if Settings › Connections › SIM manager shows Add eSIM, it is supported. Your carrier can also confirm from the IMEI. Carriers support eSIM on their network separately, so a phone can have the hardware but still need the carrier to enable it.

Dual SIM works as a physical SIM plus an eSIM on most models. A few phones can run two eSIMs, but only one is active at a time on some versions. If you plan to use two lines for work and personal, check the model's specs before you buy.

eSIM or physical SIM: which is better on a Galaxy?

• Switching is quicker with eSIM. You can change carriers without waiting for a card, and sign up at night or on a trip.
• A physical SIM is easier to move. Pop it into another phone and you are done, with no carrier steps. That helps if your phone breaks or your battery dies.
• eSIM is harder to lose or steal. Nobody can pull it out of a stolen phone, though the line can still be moved if someone tricks a carrier.
• Dual lines are simpler with eSIM. You can keep a main plan on the physical SIM and add a second line without a second tray.

If you often swap phones, a physical SIM is more flexible. If you travel or want two numbers, eSIM is more useful. You can mix both. For a longer look at the pros and cons, read what an eSIM is, and if your next phone is an iPhone, see how to move an eSIM to a new iPhone.

How to remove or delete an eSIM

Open Settings › Connections › SIM manager, tap the eSIM and choose Remove. Think twice before you delete it. An eSIM that is removed cannot always be restored, and you may have to ask the carrier for a new code. If you only want to stop using it for now, turn it off instead. Before you sell or trade in the phone, remove the eSIM and then erase the phone. Learn more about what an eSIM is in this eSIM guide.